| "Anything" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Canadian single cover | ||||
| Single byHedley | ||||
| from the albumWild Life | ||||
| Released | August 19, 2013 (2013-08-19) | |||
| Recorded | 2013 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 3:11 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Hedley singles chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 US EP and international single cover | ||||
"Anything" is a song recorded by Canadianpop rock bandHedley for their fifth studio album,Wild Life (2013). The song was written and produced byJacob Hoggard andBrian Howes, with additional writing by Jason Van Poederooyen. It was released to Canadian radio on August 19, 2013, throughUniversal Music Canada as the album'slead single.[1] "Anything" was serviced toalternative radio in the US throughCapitol Records in November 2013 as the band's fifth American single.[2][3]
Upon release, "Anything" was met with mixed reviews frommusic critics, but performed well commercially. The song peaked at number 5 on theCanadian Hot 100 and reached the top 10 on three national airplay charts. It also charted at 18 in New Zealand. In September 2016, "Anything" was certified 4× Platinum byMusic Canada, making it the band's fastest and best-selling single to date.[4] The group performed the song at the 2013Grey Cup half-time show.[5]
It's about no limitations. I think a lot of people, in their lives, face a lot of different objects and I think the song speaks to our own individual ability to be able to overcome adversity in our lives.
"Anything" is an upbeatpop song with a duration of three minutes and eleven seconds. It is composed in the key of G and set to a BPM of 76.[6] Its lyrics convey a message of defiance and believing that one can do anything they set their mind to, regardless what people may tell them or expect of them. With itsanthemic nature, "Anything" expands upon themes found in previous Hedley singles including "Invincible" and "One Life".[7] Lead singer and co-writer Jacob Hoggard explained that the song is, to him, about finding the strength to rise above life's hardships.[8]
Emma Garland atAlter The Press! gave the song a mixed review, feeling that although "Anything" is "insanely catchy", the "uh-uh, fuck that"hook is "awkward" and "quickly gets irritating".[9] Philip Lickley at UK music blogAll-Noise described the song as "a stadium-friendly chanting song... with a strong message" that "screams out for radio play", and rated it a 7 out of 10.[10] The single was nominated for two awards at the2014 Juno Awards:Video of the Year andProducer of the Year.[11]
The music video for "Anything" was directed by JP Poliquin and was shot at The Great Hall inToronto,Ontario.[8] It premiered on the band'sVEVO channel on September 10, 2013.[12] Speaking about the video, Hoggard stated, "In the spirt of the concept of the song, we were like, 'Hang on, f--k, this, let's just do whatever the f--k we want. I think that would almost be the truest form of expressing the sentimentality of that song in video form.'"[13]
| Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | MuchMusic Video Awards | Video of the Year | Won | [14] |
| Director of the Year | Nominated | [15] | ||
| Pop Video of the Year | Won | [14] | ||
| Your Fave Video of the Year | Won | |||
| 2014 | Juno Awards | Video of the Year | Nominated | [16] |
| Producer of the Year | Nominated | [17] |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Anything" |
| 3:10 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Anything" |
| 3:10 |
| 2. | "Headphones" |
| 3:33 |
| 3. | "I'll Be with You" |
| 3:10 |
| 4. | "Mexico" |
| 3:46 |
| 5. | "Heaven in Our Headlights" |
| 3:09 |
| Total length: | 16:50 | ||
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[28] | 4× Platinum | 320,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[29] | Gold | 7,500* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | August 19, 2013 | Radio airplay | Universal Music Canada | [1] |
| September 17, 2013 | Digital download | [18] | ||
| Worldwide | November 12, 2013 | Capitol Records | [30] | |
| United States | November 18, 2013 | Alternative radio | [3] | |
| December 3, 2013 | Digitalextended play | [19] | ||
| United Kingdom | June 2, 2014 | CD single | Universal Music Canada | [31] |
